Stonewall Columbus Pride 2025: lineup, tickets & parade

Columbus, Ohio might surprise newcomers with its Pride–it’s one of the largest Pride events in the Midwest United States, drawing around 700,000 visitors to the city!

The Stonewall Columbus Pride 2025 celebration will be a city-wide affair throughout June, with the pinnacle being Pride Weekend on June 13–14, 2025. This year’s official theme is “United in Power,” emphasizing strength through community unity and allyship.

Columbus Pride is known for its huge downtown parade, expansive festival in Goodale Park, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere that reflects the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re attending the parade, exploring the festival, or partying in the Short North arts district, you’ll find Columbus Pride both energetic and heartwarming, blending Midwest hospitality with loud and proud celebration.

Stonewall Columbus Pride March

The Stonewall Columbus Pride March–a centerpiece of the festivities–takes place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Step-off is at 10:30 AM from downtown Columbus. The march (Columbus prefers the term “march” to honor Pride’s protest roots) winds through downtown streets and typically up High Street through the Short North, ending near Goodale Park where the festival is held.

This parade is massive: over 80+ marching contingents participate, including floats from corporations, local businesses, community and school groups, and advocacy organizations. In recent years, more than 16,000 people marched and upwards of 40,000–50,000 spectators lined the route–expect those numbers or more in 2025!

Pride Festival at Goodale Park

After the parade, the celebration continues at Goodale Park on both Friday and Saturday (June 13–14). The Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival is among the largest free Pride festivals in the U.S. Midwest. In 2025 it runs Friday 4 PM – 10 PM and Saturday 11 AM – 8 PM.

The festival features over 200 vendor booths ranging from LGBTQ+ organizations and local artisans to national brands showing support. It’s not just booths – there are multiple stages of live entertainment. You can catch everything from local bands and choirs to drag revues and headline performances (past headliners have included artists like Todrick Hall and Karmin).

Families are very much part of Columbus Pride, so you’ll find a Youth & Family Area with things like face-painting and games for kids. Conversely, there’s a Party Tent with DJs for those who want a dance-club feel at 3 in the afternoon. One beloved tradition is the Pride Brunch on Sunday (June 15) hosted by Stonewall Columbus–a ticketed fundraiser with mimosas and performances, usually selling out in advance.

History of "Pride in the Heartland"

Columbus Pride has always been both a celebration and a fundraiser–it supports Stonewall Columbus, the LGBTQ+ center that provides community programs. Pride is their largest fundraiser each year. This means every rainbow balloon and T-shirt sold feeds back into services for seniors, youth, and the broader community.

The name “Stonewall Columbus” itself honors the Stonewall Riots, linking Columbus to that national legacy of resistance. Pride 2025’s theme, “United in Power” was announced early in the year with an explicit focus: celebrating the strength in collective action and resilience in the face of challenges.

Ohio in recent times has seen battles over anti-LGBTQ legislation, so Pride in Columbus is also a show of solidarity against those forces.

Nightlife and Events

Columbus’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is particularly lively during Pride. Short North is the epicenter: bars like Union Café, Axis Nightclub, and more will have extended hours and special drag shows/DJs all Pride weekend. Friday night typically sees a “Pride Block Party” in the Short North – in 2024 an estimated 10,000 attended the free outdoor party on High Street once the festival closed. For 2025, expect similar: stages with DJs right on the street, dance circles forming spontaneously, and revelry spilling out of every bar.

Saturday night after the festival, Axis Nightclub (one of the Midwest’s biggest gay clubs) hosts the official Pride dance party featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race stars and performers. Also, check out the after-parade drag shows at downtown theaters – Nina West (Columbus’s drag superstar and former Drag Race contestant) often produces a family-friendly drag spectacle on Pride Saturday early evening, which sells out quickly.

Where to Stay for Stonewall Columbus Pride

Visiting Columbus for the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride celebrations? Check out our carefully curated selection of gay-friendly hotels in Columbus, OH and book your stay now!